Regulator for feeding material to a processing machine

ABSTRACT

A device having a pivotally mounted load sensing means and a motor actuating means responsive to movement of the load sensing means is provided. The device regulates the feeding of material to a processing machine. The motor actuating means is for switching on and off a flow of material to be fed to the processing machine. The load sensing means is responsive to the weight of material flowing into a supply container for subsequent feeding to the processing machine. The load sensing means is adapted to move about its pivotal axis when material in the supply container reaches a predetermined level. A specific embodiment of this regulating device includes a mechanism for feeding spinning material or the like to a processing machine such as a carding machine, carders or the like.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,715,041 Peters 1 1 Feb. 6, 1973 [54] REGULATOR FOR FEEDING 2,353,541 7/1944 Bokum et al. ..222/56 MATERIAL To A PROCESSING 2,242,998 5 1941 Bogaty ..214/17 c MACHINE [75] Inventor: Franz Peters, Dulmen, Germany [73] Assignee: Hergeth KG. Maschinenfabrik und Apparatebau, Dulmen, Germany [22] Filed: July 8, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 53,122

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 11, 1969 Germany ..P 19 35 184.9

[52] US. Cl. ..214/17 CA, 222/56 [51] ..B65g 67/56 [58] Field of Search .....2l4/l7 C, 17CA; 222/56, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,360,583 10/1942 Riehl 1 ..214/17 CA X 1,912,335 5/1933 Schweickart.. ..214/17 CA 3,135,427 6/1964 Siegburg ..222/58 2,381,505 8/1945 Lindholm ..214/17 CA Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan Att0rneyLowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith ABSTRACT A device having a pivotally mounted load sensing means and a motor actuating means responsive to movement of the load sensing means is provided. The device regulates the feeding of material to a processing machine. The motor actuating means is for switching on and off a flow of material to be fed to the processing machine. The load sensing means is responsive to the weight of material flowing into a supply container for subsequent feeding to the processing machine. The load sensing means is adapted to move about its pivotal axis when material in the supply container reaches a predetermined level. A specific embodiment of this regulating device includes a mechanism for feeding spinning material or the like to a processing machine such as a carding machine, carders or the like.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures REGULATOR FOR FEEDING MATERIAL TO A PROCESSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art provides a method of maintaining material in a supply container at a certain level so that the material may be fed to a processing machine in a regular flow. The prior art method is used in conjunction with the processing of spinning material. In this prior art method, the material is first fed into a supply container in which a certain level of opened material is to be maintained. A removal device feeds the material in a regular flow from the supply container to the carding machine. The removal. device may be a conveyor belt or the like.

A feeler unit is used to adjust the feed flow from the supply container to the processing machine. The feeler unit produces a control pulse which is therefore derived from the feed flow to control and regulate the operation of the processing machine. Among other things, the sensitivity of the regulating device of the prior art depends to a large degree on the position and arrangement of the feeler unit. In many cases such a unit is located on one side wall of the supply container. In this instance, the level of material in the container is measured directly by the feeler unit. Often, however, an insufficient level of material will influence the control of the feeler unit thereby feeding out material in an unregulated manner. This result occurs especially when a mechanically acting feeler unit is used in conjunction with the supply container.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide a device for regulating the feeding of material to a processing machine that is simple in construction and has a good response in dependence upon the amount of material fed into a supply container.

Another object of this invention is to providea regulating device which may be used for feeding spinning material and the like to processing machines such as carding machines,,carders or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a regulating device in combination with a supply container for the purpose of obtaining a controlled feed to a processing machine that is dependent upon the operation of a load sensing means which is responsive to the weight of material flowing to a supply container.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an economical control device that functions in correspondence with the weight of material located in a supply container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION container for providing a regulated feeding of material to a processing machine. The total combination includes a motor driven means which provides a flow of material into the supply container and a means to feed the material from the supply container to the processing machine. The structural elements of the regulating device are used in combination with the structure of the supply container.

In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the load sensing means includes a first lever member adapted to receive the weight of the material flowing into the supply container. The motor actuating means includes a second pivotally mounted lever member and means responsive to the movement of the second lever member for switching on and off the flow of material to be fed to the processing machine. A balance unit may include the first and second lever members extending in divergent directions with respect to a single pivotal axis. The first lever member extends below the supply container and constitutes at least a portion of the supply container. The first lever member is indirect contact with the material located in the supply container. As the weight of the material in the supply container increases, the first lever member moves about the pivotal axis. This action causes the second lever member to move. The first lever member constitutes the balance support of the base of the supply container and provides a sensitive feeler device.

An electrical control device acts in conjunction with the second lever member for switching the motor driven means on and off thereby controlling the flow of material into the supply container. The electrical control device may comprise a photoelectric cell, an ultrasonic pulse generator or the like to switch the motor driven means on and off. The second lever member includes a structural configuration which activates the electrical control device as the second lever member moves about its pivotal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the combination as shown in FIG. 1 includes a supply container, generally designated 1, into which spinning material is fed by way of the feed mechanism, generally designated 2. The feeding mechanism 2 comprises two feed rollers 3 between which the spinning material is passed and an opener roller 4 which is used to open up the spinning material as it enters the supply container 1. The regulating device, generally designated 5, includes a first lever arm or member 6 and a second lever arm or member 7 each of which is rotatable around the bearing pivot 8..

device 5 therefore includes a load sensing means having a first lever member 6 which receives the weight of the material flowing into the supply container 1. The arm 6 comprises the base of the supply container 1 and extends obliquely toward the side at which the spinning material is flowing into the container.

The spinning material is removed from the supply container 1 by a conveyor means which is a needle lattice device 9 in this specific embodiment. The conveyor 9 forms the wall of the container 1 and thereby limits the supply space near the bearing pivot 8. The spinning material is not to have any weight directed onto the second lever member 7. The load sensing means comprising the first lever member 6 is responsive to the weight of the spinning material flowing to the supply container 1. The second lever member 7 moves in conjunction with the lever member 6 when the spinning material reaches a predetermined level in the supply container 1. An electrical control device 12 is responsive to the movement of the second lever arm or member 7 for switching on and off the flow of the spinning material being fed into the supply container 1 and therefore to the subsequent processing machine. In this instance, the subsequent processing machine may be a carding mechanism, carder, or the like. The subsequent processing mechanism is not shown and does not form a part of the instant invention.

A sliding, adjustable weight 10 is mounted on the second lever arrri or member 7. This weight provides a counterbalance to the first lever member 6 and is used in determining the amount of spinning material which may be maintained in the supply container 1 during the operation of the processing machine.

The feed mechanism 2 provides a flow of spinning material into the supply container 1. It is driven by the motor 14. A switch is provided to turn the motor 14 on and off thereby controlling the flow of spinning material into the supply container 1. The switch 15 is activated by the control device 12. A feeler tongue 11 is located at the end of the arm 7. The control device 12 is operated by the feeler tongue 11. A particular field of action is provided by the control device 12 and as the feeler tongue 11 moves into and out of the field of action, the switch 15 is turned on and off thereby controlling the flow of energy to the motor 14. The elctrical control device 12 may be a photoelectric cell, an ultrasonic device or the like. In this specific embodiment, as the weight of the spinning material bears downwardly on the arm 6, it moves away from the stop 13 and causes the arm 7 to move upwardly. As the arm 7 moves upwardly, the feeler tonge 11 moves out of the field of action for the control device 12 and opens the switch 15 to turn the motor 14 off. This stops the flow of material into the supply container until the level of material is reduced to the desired amount by the removing conveyor 9. The stop 13 is fixed in its location but may be adjustable to various positions within the supply container 1.

if no material lies on the lever arm 6, the weight 10 of the arm 7 presses the lever member 6 against the stop 13. While the arm 6 is in this position, the feeler tongue 11 is in the field of action for the control device 12 such as a light area of a photoelectric cell or a sound area of an ultrasonic device. As the drive motor 14 activates the induction rollers 3, the spinning material is delivered into the supply container 1. After the spinning material reaches a desired predetermined level in the container 1, the lever member 6 which constitutes the base of the supply container 1 in this specific embodiment, responds to the weight of the spinning material. The balance unit 5 therefore pivots around the bearing point pivot 8 with the weight 10 acting as a counterbalance for the lever member 6. The feeler tongue 11 is brought out of the field of action of the electrical control device 12 resulting in the switching off of the drive motor 14 as described hereinabove. The amount of weight needed to move the lever arm 6 can be increased or reduced by moving the weight 10 along the arm 7. By controlling the balance of the weights in this fashion, the level of spinning material in the supply container 1 can be accurately set. Additional sensitivity may be obtained through the adjustment of the stop 13 within the supply container 1.

While the regulator for feeding material to a processing machine has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for regulating the feeding of material to a processing machine comprising a. a supply container means having a lower base member,

said base member constituting a first lever member pivotally mounted along its lowermost edge and arranged to extend obliquely upward and being pivotally moved by the weight of the material within the container means,

. conveyor means for moving material from the container means to the processing machine,

. feed means for supplying material to the container means as required, and

. actuating means responsive to the pivotal movement of said base member to activate the feed means whereby a desired quantity of material is maintained within the container means,

f. said actuating means includes a second lever member attached to the base member and extending beyond the pivotal axis in a direction away from the base member and control means responsive to the pivotal movement of the second lever member for controlling said feed means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the conveyor means is in the form of an endless conveyor and arranged to extend upwardly from a location adjacent to the pivotal axis of said base member.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second lever member includes a biasing means whereby the first lever member is biased upwardly against the weight of the material load in the container means and said biasing means is adjustable so that a predetermined load must be applied to the first lever means before the levers can pivotally move.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein tive to changes of the material weight when approaching the predetermined value.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein an adjustable stop is provided between the container means and the upper edge of the base member to pivotally position the base member with respect to the container means whereby the pivotal movement of the base member will be more sensitive to the weight of the material within the container means.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuating means is arranged below the supply container means. 

1. An apparatus for regulating the feeding of material to a processing machine comprising a. a supply container means having a lower base member, b. said base member constituting a first lever member pivotally mounted along its lowermost edge and arranged to extend obliquely upward and being pivotally moved by the weight of the material within the container means, c. conveyor means for moving material from the container means to the processing machine, d. feed means for supplying material to the container means as required, and e. actuating means responsive to the pivotal movement of said base member to activate the feed means whereby a desired quantity of material is maintained within the container means, f. said actuating means includes a second lever member attached to the base member and extending beyond the pivotal axis in a direction away from the base member and control means responsive to the pivotal movement of the second lever member for controlling said feed means.
 1. An apparatus for regulating the feeding of material to a processing machine comprising a. a supply container means having a lower base member, b. said base member constituting a first lever member pivotally mounted along its lowermost edge and arranged to extend obliquely upward and being pivotally moved by the weight of the material within the container means, c. conveyor means for moving material from the container means to the processing machine, d. feed means for supplying material to the container means as required, and e. actuating means responsive to the pivotal movement of said base member to activate the feed means whereby a desired quantity of material is maintained within the container means, f. said actuating means includes a second lever member attached to the base member and extending beyond the pivotal axis in a direction away from the base member and control means responsive to the pivotal movement of the second lever member for controlling said feed means.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the conveyor means is in the form of an endless conveyor and arranged to extend upwardly from a location adjacent to the pivotal axis of said base member.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second lever member includes a biasing means whereby the first lever member is biased upwardly against the weight of the material load in the container means and said biasing means is adjustable so that a predetermined load must be applied to the first lever means before the levers can pivotally move.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second lever members form a balance means, and said second lever member includes a slidable weight positionable along the lever with respect to the pivotal axis to bias the first lever member upwardly against a predetermined weight of material whereby the weight must exceed the predetermined value before the lever members move and actuate said control means.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuating means further includes an adjustable stop means for pivotally positioning the base member with respect to the container member whereby the actuating means is made more sensitive to changes of the material weight when approaching the predetermined value.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein an adjustable stop is provided between the container means and the upper edge of the base member to pivotally position the base member with respect to the container means whereby the pivotal movement of the base member will be more sensitive to the weight of the material within the container means. 